stories from

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2011

WINDER - Barrow County commissioners on Tuesday approved a development permit for a 292-acre master planned development that a Calgary, Alberta-based company wants to build at the northwest corner of Georgia highways 316 and 81.

A man told police he was attacked west of downtown early Wednesday because he is gay, Athens-Clarke police said.
The 22-year-old victim was returning from downtown, to his car parked on Pulaski Street, at about 2:15 a.m.

A drunken man landed in jail Wednesday morning after shaking his booty at motorists while in the middle of a downtown intersection, Athens-Clarke police said. An officer was on patrol at about 12:30 a.m.

OPENING THIS WEEK
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED: A group of talking chipmunks and their human companions get shipwrecked on a remote island. With Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate and the voice of Justin Long. 1 hr. 27; G.

The old Southern Manufacturing Co. at 355 Oneta St. boasts 18 acres of shaded grounds less than a five-minute walk from the Boulevard residential district and about 188,000 square feet of old mill space.

St. Mary's Health Care System announced Wednesday that it will rename the Greensboro hospital - known as Saint Joseph's at East Georgia - after it assumes ownership Jan. 1.
System officials will name the facility St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, St.

ATLANTA - Federal regulators are leaning toward approving a nuclear reactor designed by Westinghouse Electric Co. that could power the first nuclear plants built from scratch in a generation.
A majority of the members of the U.S.

ATLANTA - The state Department of Transportation's board has withdrawn a plan to add optional toll lanes alongside interstate highways in Cobb and Cherokee counties north of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.

CANTON, Ga. - A television station is reporting that a Cherokee County sheriff's deputy and a trainee are facing disciplinary action for failing to report seeing what appeared to be blood during the search for 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera.

Entries already are coming in to the annual Holiday Lights Contest put on by the Athens Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens.com.
If you think your house is the most festive, colorful or inventive on the block, send a photo or two to news@onlineathens.

Ray had diabetes since he was a child, but in his later life, it caused him to have seizures. He was unable to work after a seizure caused him to lose the use of his right arm. He had two small boys, whose mother left due to financial hardships.

WASHINGTON — Democrats may jettison their demand for higher taxes on millionaires as part of legislation to extend Social Security tax cuts for most Americans, officials said Wednesday as President Barack Obama and Congress struggled to clear critical year-end bills without triggering a partial government shutdown.

NEW YORK - Ah, the warm feelings of the holidays: Comfort and joy. Good cheer.
And buyer's remorse.
People who rushed to snag discounts on TVs, toys and other gifts are quickly returning them for much-needed cash.

CAIRO - Overwhelmed by Islamists in parliamentary elections, the secular and liberal youths who were the driving force behind Egypt's uprising are scrambling to ensure their voices are not lost as a new constitution and government take shape.

DALLAS - Junior Woods' has a well-practiced routine for conducting business on the road: While driving throughout rural Arkansas, the electronics salesman steals a glance at his cellphone every so often, checking for text messages and emails.

CLEVELAND - A boy removed from his mother's custody over health concerns when his weight ballooned to more than 200 pounds will be taken from foster care and placed in the custody of an uncle, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Pinewood South Mobile Home Park families were joined by supporters from the Athens area Tuesday night as they protested against the threat that the park could lose its water and sewer service next month.

TEENS IN DEAD TREES: Elsewhere on today’s editorial page, you’ll read a letter to the editor from Ashli Harper, a Cedar Shoals High School sophomore, on the mixed-use development proposed for downtown Athens that might include a 94,000-square-foot Walmart.

Harper is among the students in English teacher Christian Barner’s literature and composition class who have been looking at the Banner-Herald’s news coverage, editorials and other commentary on the proposed development.

Recently, there has been a huge controversy over the possibility of building a 95,000-square-foot Walmart in downtown Athens. I believe I'm speaking for a lot of people when I say that should not happen.

Conceding that it’s a little disconcerting that the National Transportation Safety Board would use a worst-case scenario to recommend a total ban on texting, emailing or talking on a cellphone — even hands-free devices ­­­­­— while driving, that’s not necessarily sufficient reason to reject the recommendation outright.

Georgia scored a big recruiting win on Wednesday with Mark Beard's commitment.
The Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College transfer will provide the Bulldogs with immediate help for an offensive line that loses three players going into 2012.

NEW ORLEANS - People familiar with the deal say the Hornets have agreed in principle to deal Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman and a first-round draft choice.

NEW YORK - Georgia's defense again stood out among the nation's best on Wednesday as Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones and safety Bacarri Rambo were named Associated Press All-America first-team selections.

The lockout ended, and the NBA's woes were just beginning.
Dwight Howard asked to be traded. Chris Paul was dealt to the Lakers, it seemed, until the league decided he wasn't. So the Lakers made another trade, which Kobe Bryant hated.

ATLANTA - Larry Drew wakes up at 4:30 every morning for a two-hour workout.
A tumultuous offseason gave the Atlanta Hawks' second-year coach much to think about as he lifted weights and labored on his elliptical machine.

FLOWERY BRANCH - When the Atlanta Falcons were going through their offseason checklist, they knew it was vital to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
That's why they doled out a big contract to Ray Edwards.

Brendon Todd has learned that sometimes the best advice is none at all.
After the former Georgia golfer turned professional in 2007, he found coaches who helped him tweak aspects of his game, tearing down old habits and breaking in new ones.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves are not offering a contract to right-hander Peter Moylan, who has been one of the team's top relievers the last six years.
The 31-year-old Moylan has appeared in 80 or more games in three of the last five seasons.

NEW YORK - Baseball's new labor contract includes more video replay, the chance for a longer All-Star break and a small, but likely welcome perk for players: the chance to get a private room instead of a roommate during spring training.

Back in the 1960s, The Jesters found steady work as the house band at the Athens VFW. Some 40 years later, the soul group of 60-somethings has found its way back home.
The Jesters will perform this Saturday at the VFW on Sunset Drive.

The Futurebirds first flew onto my radar about two years ago. Blake Aued recommended them to me, and Blake is rarely wrong about anything.
I've interviewed the band a few times. I've had a few beers with a couple of members.

The Occupy Athens movement may have scaled back downtown, but the initiative is alive and well at ATHICA.
The contemporary art studio has installed a pop-up exhibit of works in several media that give a voice to the Occupy movement.

Musical sure to rock
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday, Athens Community Theatre, 136 Grady Ave.
Have you had enough of holiday music playing nonstop wherever you go? The Town & Gown Players have just the break for you.